Nook Coffee Table by Dave Pickett

"The Nook Coffee Table was designed for a consumer who has limited living space and is need of a multifunctional piece of furniture. I was inspired by the idea of a bookshelf crash landing into a coffee table creating a "4th leg." This juxtaposition of form and function provides consumers with the perfect balance of storage and table space."

" The integrated bookshelf acts as a balance while bringing your most prized coffee table books closer to you. One beauty of the table is it's complex geometry, which not only allows sufficient foot room, but also entices onlookers to investigate how the coffee table balances. The architectural qualities of the table allow it to be endlessly arranged in a consumer's living space for a new look and feel. The nook for books is large enough for magazines, laptops, and even your extra couch pillows!

The table was designed and fabricated in the heart of Cleveland, OH for my junior furniture project at the Cleveland Institute of Art where I am currently pursuing a BFA in Product Design. My ultimate goal for this piece is to have it put into production! That and a spot in ICFF 2012!"

All Info

• About Design Showcase 2011: This September we're celebrating the best in undiscovered, new design for the home. We're taking submissions from independent and student designers from around the world and letting our readers vote on who they think has the best design. There's also a panel of august judges. Two winners will win $20,000 in targeted advertising placements on our sites to help launch their careers ($10k apiece).

Maxwell left teaching in 2001 to start Apartment Therapy as a design business helping people to make their homes more beautiful, organized AND healthy. The website started up in 2004 with the help of his brother, Oliver.